A Multi-Fandom Series of The 1960's

Hi all y’all. For pen friends? Don’t worry, this entry is just a random update. We’re all on our own literal pages on paper, etc.

I’m still working on stuff. Another retrospective for episode 14. So if you’re a pen pal by email or snail mail, just stick to the goodies. I’m hoping to start making things a bit more pen pal based as it’s working so well, with it’s own unfortunate snags, of course, but pen pals still kick butt over (un)social media.

Just saw the Eclipse and all it did to sunlight over my area. Really cool! Literally cool! I’ll write you all about it. Happy to do it.

So, I’m always busy, still working on everything, television shows, taking notes, podcast editing, coffee selectivity, Mod Podging collages on more fun cards to send you CDs in, getting the dishes done in a timely manner, readjusting to old ways, loving my adoptees, and playing old hidden object mystery games; no need for new ones.

I’ll leave this up for a while and hopefully delete it when I get the Update and Retrospective done for August.

love,

Daryl

K.I.T.

[This entry has been appended for educational purposes. Sorry, folks. The Internet = Interconnection with others. Those who don’t want that ought to stick to television and books. Those mediums rarely ask much more from you.]

First off I need to vent my spleen about something that is making this whole universe ill:

Bash-Culture.

I am sick to death of this phenomenon. I can’t get any chat about almost anything out of anyone because the first thing that comes up is how much one form of whatever is hated. Why? What is the point?

Is it because we’ve crossed so many boundaries already and the final thing left to hate-on is entertainment?

Is it because these social networks have engendered the entire population back into a school playground where every individual feels the need to vocalize louder than the rest?

Is there some inherent need to put on some swagger to feel superior to each other?

Has the Information Age made information itself so convenient that no one wants to bother learning a damn thing anymore?

All of the above?

All I know is I can’t get a dialogue going about The Addams Family with almost anyone because something always comes up to interrupt it; Some version of The Addams Family that was disapproved of. There is barely any practice in conversation that doesn’t adhere to despising some little piece of it to death.

This doesn’t help get any new work done. There appears to be no knowledgeable fan with conversation skills within easy reach of me. It’s the same damn problem as it’s been with lovers of the Dark Shadows romantic pairings I’ve put together all over again: Nothing but photos and little friggin’ happy stickers…

What I understand of The Addams Family is it was begun as a scene of panels by Charles Addams. Addams’ first drawing, a sketch of a window washer, ran in The New Yorker on February 6, 1932, and his cartoons ran regularly in the magazine from 1938, when he drew the first in the series that came to be called The Addams Family, until his death. He was a freelancer throughout that time.

The Addams Family television series began after David Levy, a television producer, approached Addams with an offer to create it with a little help from the humorist. All Addams had to do was give his characters names and more characteristics for the actors to use in portrayals. The series ran on ABC for two seasons, from 1964 to 1966.

Those old drawings were more macabre than the 1960’s television show of The Addams Family I am currently watching and taking notes on. There was more comic hilarity in the television show and very likely because of what that television audience in those years were allowed to view. A sign of the times.

Later on, the films of The Addams Family in the 1990’s incorporated this darker infusion of The Addams Family, and even began with a direct take from the comic of old, pouring boiling oil on a party of Christmas carolers. These films were not my introduction to The Addams Family but they were the strong pull I had as new releases in my teens when I was already attracted to the spooky and bizarre as a whole.

For that am I supposed to suffer? Am I supposed to have to wallow in a cave for what I saw due to my age and environment? Do I continue to have to avoid this topic because anyone who enjoys those films, which are over twenty years old by now, are also going to be yelled at for enjoying them rather than the television show which was inspired by a series of one panel comics in The New Yorker of the 1930’s?

Perhaps no one is left who might have preferred the New Yorker panel comics to the damn 1960’s television show! (If you are, I’m ready to hear your complaints! And only yours!)

I’ve yet to hear any troubles with what came after the 1990’s Addams Family films due to their success, which is “The Addams Family: The Animated Series” (1992–1993), without which I may not have had the pleasure of Automne Archer’s company and help! She watched those cartoons, then the films, THEN the television show of the 1960’s in that order. Did I ever harp on her about that?

No.

Why?

Because I am NOT interested in what is hated, I’m interested in what is loved. And what you love about it!

What purpose does any of this holier-than-thou posturing serve? Just seems like a bunch of apes beating their chests to show off. I will admit I did quite a bit of that from my junior-high school to college years. And you know what I did after that?

I moved on!

I distinctly looked at the wealth of books, movies, audio shows and anything else that I liked in particular and I stuck to those. I became very aware that I had a ton of choices to pick from. So? I picked what I wanted to pick!

And what happened after that? I became very open to what other people were choosing for themselves, not because I wanted to imbibe what they were enjoying but because I liked listening to what they had good to say about it. I turn down offers to watch or read things. I’m more interested in what that friend or individual got out of what they enjoyed.

Unfortunately, nowadays it’s a massive secret where the heck people are hiding out to dare discuss what they enjoy. The internet has become a battleground of hate and constant dismissal. Anything those pesky advertisers can do to grab your attention at some scandal or idiotic griping over nothing. It’s all programming, you know. It’s all just to soak your attention and get you to purchase more that you don’t need. And the upshot is always reverting back to that sense of irritation with something that has an off-switch within easy reach.

Hence? This log entry. I implore any lovers of The Addams Family to reach me and discuss any and all facets that you love about it. Maybe you’re rusty, yes, but I’m fed up with the hate. The Addams Family is not about that. They symbolize the most diverse and loving aspects in each of us, and they do it in a spooky way, which I love. Whatever Addams Family you like most? I want to hear all about it! I don’t want stickers, I don’t want bravos.

Episode 13: Purpose of dedication to Kathryn Leigh Scott and importance of her contributions and characters in Dark Shadows. My falling into the Julia/Barnabas trap and how a Julia/Barnabas fan, Helena Clara Bouchet, helped to pull me out of it. Incorporating much more “Clue” with Willie & Wadsworth, and the topic of Willie Loomis in general. Caleb Collins meeting with Lily and Elizabeth.

Why the Morticia scene with Victoria turned out the way that it did. Final scene with car race in construction between my occupations in vision therapy. (Osheen Nevoy’s response to the scene.) How music was chosen throughout podcast: Ennio Morricone, Verne Langdon, Stoa, Claudine Longet.

Better methods in communication, and how to make requests for potential MJD podcast, etc. All methods of which have been available since the 20th Century.

With the lengthy podcast for June out and being listened to (however little it’s content is properly digested) I have noticed a great number of lurkers wandering over to this site. The statistics lead me to believe many lovers of my work who can’t be arsed to admit it or, maybe, write or phone me, (sorry if I missed your call,) are awaiting further fun goodies. Fun goodies that they are incapable of understanding to begin with so it’s all rather nonsensical.

Meanwhile, what has Daryl been doing? Corresponding like the dickens!

I enjoyed picking up sixteen letters & postcards recently, then setting them on the table during a visit with new friends to announce the old chestnut, “No one writes letters anymore.” We all chuckled merrily over the joke, were awed by the abundance and gushed at the artistry on many of the envelopes.

And this just in from a dear pen friend, “I have to agree on Facebook, it’s a bunch of crap now. I get more forwards now then ever. Not much in the way of actual posts of what some folks have done. So I have pretty much signed off completely… It used to be a cool thing, games, actual talking between people, but now it is such an addicting thing for so many, and that some actually believe that all those people they are ‘friends’ with, are really their friends. But now it’s just a bunch of haters, forwarding stupid forwards, some that make no sense. And the ones I dislike are the ‘answer and repost if you really care.’ And now some bullies have really taken over social media as a whole, and it sucks. Not at all like what I was hoping for, instant message and fun, and it hasn’t been that way in a long time. You’re not missing anything on it, believe me. Just glad I never let it destroy me, like it has for so many.”

Amen!

Now onto the point of this log entry…

I received this card in the mail from a pen friend I’ve been in contact with for about a year. Like many pen pals, she is having problems getting people who will consistently write to her. She wonders,

“I always think it’s odd when people sign up for snail mail correspondence and then stop writing. I was really lucky that my first _____ pen pals were yourself and another gal. We all still correspond. The few people afterwards stopped after one letter! So odd! I don’t think anyone has expectations to get a letter every week or something but still… why even sign up to do it?”

To which I have responded:

“As for the deterioration of letter-writing among those who sign up to pen pal? I found more evidence of why during my Facebook Friday: There are two [I will label these as First and Second] strong proponents of pen palling that require a fee for membership, and have Facebook groups only open to paid members. A good idea in theory, yes?
“My use of Facebook induced a struggle in addiction that is extremely like nicotine. I’ve broken the cycle by carefully scheduling my use of it to once every two weeks. (I’m now moving to three weeks.) This took almost a year for me to accomplish.

“However, the First pen pal organization with a Facebook group has members who were once writing to me. One, a man who sent me my first quill pen, is active there. He has often promised to write when he notices me and? Never does. I wrote to him recently and he never wrote back. [Pardon this entry if you have just written, my dear!]

“The Second also uses Facebook with a few groups. They boast of this on their website and in their newsletters. (Their fees are higher and periodic – as opposed to the First which has a very low one-time fee.)

“This encouragement to Facebook greatly demotes the act of letter-writing into the ‘happy idea’ that its Facebook users are engaging effusively in this activity. Facebook posts will ask questions about letter-writing preferences, but… anyone can pretend to know and have preferences about something they once did or never do. That’s easy.

“In the end? Many people are signing up for pen pals because it’s a happy or romantic idea for them. The long-term effort doesn’t take hold in reality. In short this is known as living-in-denial. It’s also the reason one can find so much unused stationery in thrift shops.

“The ‘happy idea’ pen pals who rarely do it? They like to buy much in the way of supplies for their future hobby. That gives them the tactile proof they will see-it-through. (Similar to when people purchase exercise equipment to lose weight.) They may hold on to masses of stationery for years, but it eventually has to go. It makes very little sense to drop off used stationery to a thrift store, doesn’t it?”

Of course the “happy idea” style of people come in all sorts: famous novelist, delightful actor, slim-as-a-rail beauty, voracious reader of books, award-winning architect, and so on. It’s fun to daydream. Daydreams can dismiss a wealth of calendar days and fulfill hours of time. And social media often manages to push people out of reality and far into daydreams. Much like the The Mirror of Erised in the lore of Harry Potter.

The Mirror of Erised is a mirror, which, according to Albus Dumbledore, shows the “deepest, most desperate desire of our hearts.”

Dumbledore warns Harry, “Men have wasted away before it, not knowing if what they have seen is real, or even possible.”

Such is the case I see in social media where once I saw this with television.

In the meantime, between letters and shows, studies and healing (however sour I feel about the state of modern life) I am managing to get a little book reading done, and am currently on Chapter 6 of The Glass Cage by Nicholas Carr. It’s helping to explain so very much that is, forthwith, ruining our intelligence, skills, and wisdom.

One thing cheering me up as I go are a few pen pals enjoying the show on CD. They never cease thanking me for reaching out to them and sharing it and my company with them.

Talk about social media addiction with its ensuing paranoia. Continual gratitude to pen pals and describing their beautiful influence in my life. (I welcome more!)

Why and how constructive praise is important. The fun of watching First Year Dark Shadows. A little chat over 16 & 17 – Retrospective for episodes 8, 9, 10, and both parts of 11. Fair delving into characters from The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, The Addams Family, The Munsters, and Bewitched in The Pit; particularly Captain Gregg’s stormy weather – story building as well as technical aspects.

The fleshing out of Caleb Collins as based on evidence from the original Dark Shadows program and historical research in the Victorian time period.

Discussion on the marriage novel, “Margaret Josette Dupres” and delving into why the sharing of further chapters are (currently) suspended.

I’m still working on new material, but I’m also reveling in the joy of letter-writing once more. It’s home to me and much of this web-log shows that very easily. The entries are often as though I am writing letters to the known and unknown people reading it.

I’m putting together another retrospective for June of 2017. It’s turning out to be very long. I’m not really worried about that because there are some podcasts out there I have listened to over the years that can reach up to 2-3 hours in length. This one I am creating shouldn’t be that long, but I’m not worried about the length because, from what I’ve gathered, a lot of people online like to waste time which means they have plenty of time to spend on something worth listening to, even if they have to pause and come back later to hear it.

Meanwhile I’m viewing the First Year of Dark Shadows. My husband and I were still in the Bill Malloy area for Memorial Day Weekend. In the earlier part that still shows Bill Malloy alive, Carolyn Stoddard meets Burke Devlin at The Collinsport Inn coffee shop to see Burke reading a book. I made a joke that, since Burke Devlin’s initial story is based on an Alexander Dumas tale, that he was reading “The Count of Monte Cristo”.

I sure burst out laughing. I had to explain a bit of why, and how my joke was spot-on, to my sweetheart.

I believe the writers might have wanted to educate the audience about what they were viewing. If that sunk in with anyone, who knows?

On my own I am going through the introduction of Laura Murdoch Collins. It’s an absolute gas! The metaphors are so blatant they have her hailing from Phoenix, Arizona, and people are lighting matches and staring into them intently.

For my Laura time period viewing there is a lot of soapy silliness. Burke getting a big smooch from Carolyn and then wandering over to the Morgan cottage to try the same thing with Laura. Roger bursting in with a shotgun and staking some claim while Laura complains they are behaving like they did ten years ago.

I don’t why but I really like this Laura Collins! She’s got horrible intentions, I know, I know. But she isn’t blustering around with a rifle and screaming at people. She was also averse to Burke’s wooing and rightly so. The dude’s already courting another blonde in the family. Gross!

But then we have this lovely morning with Victoria Winters and Mrs. Collins. Something about it is pleasant and agreeable.

Miss Winters tells David’s mother how she finds David to be sensitive and more intelligent than most children. Laura’s motherly appeal looks genuine. I know… it’s probably nothing near that, I know, but the sense of, well… warmth, without exactly meaning to make a pun of these things, is right there. (happy smile)

And I got some goodies about Laura being in a sanatorium holding on to the locket Roger gave her on their wedding night, which is a family heirloom and contains a lock of David’s baby hair. Many significant details of the outside world to get her through her time of mental duress.

Plenty of lovely scenes at the Evans Cottage which is absolutely wonderful considering how much I care about Sam and Maggie, scary painting possessing Sam or not. ❤

Also various empty moments witnessing a telephone ringing in a vacant room as Sheriff Patterson desperately dials numbers from a phone booth. Funniest bit was Roger and Burke going machismo at each other in The Blue Whale as Sam gets to be the intimate audience to the whole male-posturing scenario, which Carolyn later interrupts in her breezy way. Sam ends the evening to leave by saying, “I think I’ve filled my quota…” No kidding, Pop! XD

But for the serious, the upcoming podcast will break down what’s up with me, going through a few more old episodes of The Pit and various means of putting it together, similar to the last retrospective but with more details as the episodes increased in length.

Moreover, the understanding that my addressing the internet and 21st century gadgets creating flawed faculties in society at large has always been important. All the arguing over the years at me to share my very hard work without feedback was extremely nonsensical, while encouraging depletion of social skills and wherewithal.

There are so many things that have happened that I did not condone and, in good conscious, I never can approve of. If society at large is regressing into laziness and grade school mentality, while many still harness the angst of adolescence and adulthood, there is nothing to encourage about that. It is like training people to become autistic and we have enough work to do with people who are already born autistic. A brother of mine has autism and is low-functioning. He was born that way. It is not a condition that is easy to handle or care for. It is a full and overtime job. I do not wish this disability for anyone and I am against allowing others to sink into such a state by environment.

Whatever disabilities one might have should not exist as an excuse but a challenge. One might consider me disabled because I do not drive. However, I live with that challenge on a daily basis and am extremely grateful when I receive the help of transportation that I cannot provide for myself.

Has anyone questioned if I was given the proper guidance and instruction to reach that form of “independence”? Do drivers recall how very much it takes to gain that freedom so many adhere as a duty instead? Many people are involved in that privilege for an individual to become a licensed driver. No one person becomes a motorist on their own. It takes community and several exhausting hoops to jump through.

Attempting to become a driver myself taught me something very important, indeed.

Independence is very often an illusion. Human beings are dependent on each other.